Ed. Note:  These musings appear on the front page of the Trinity Newsletter that is published weekly.  I post here some of the ones which don't address the news about things going on at the church, but, rather, reflect our Pastor's philosophy and pastoral care.

WUAL (FM 91.5) will broadcast the 2009 Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols live  from King’s College at 9am on Christmas Eve (on David Duff's Classical Music Program).

You may also be interested in APR's Christmas Schedule:

December 9, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

On Sunday, December 6, we presented our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. The service will be led by our Chancel Choir under the direction of Mr. Kevin Chance.  This Advent tradition blends music and scripture into a wonderful re-telling of the prophesied coming of our Messiah. This year’s festival will feature trumpet, oboe and a guest soloist.   

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was first held on Christmas Eve 1918 in the King’s College Chapel at Cambridge University, using an order written by the new Dean of York, 34-year old Eric Milner-White, who adapted it from an earlier Christmas Eve service presented in another setting.  While the carols have changed from time to time, the backbone of the service, the lessons and the prayers, has remained virtually unchanged.  

The forerunner of The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols was the Christmas Eve Celebration drawn up by E. W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for use in the wooden shed, which then served as his cathedral in Truro, a 12th century British port city in Cornwall, on Christmas Eve 1880.  A. C. Benson recalled: ‘My father arranged from ancient sources a little service for Christmas Eve – nine carols and nine tiny lessons, which were read by various officers of the Church, beginning with a chorister, and ending, through the different grades, with the Bishop.’  Almost immediately, other churches adapted the service for their own use. 

A wider frame began to grow when the service was first broadcast in 1928 and, with the exception of 1930, it has been broadcast annually, even during the Second World War, when the ancient glass (and also all heat) had been removed from the Chapel and the name of King’s College could not be broadcast for security reasons.  Wherever the service is heard and, however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive from the lessons and not the music. 

‘The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God …’ seen ‘through the windows and words of the Bible’. 

Local interests appear, as they do here, in the bidding prayer; and personal circumstances give point to different parts of the service.  Many of those who took part in the first service must have recalled those killed in the Great War when it came to the famous passage ‘all those who rejoice with us, but on another shore and in a greater light’.  The center of the service is still found by those who ‘go in heart and mind’ and who consent to follow where the story leads. 

Peace,

Wade

The Trinity Choir        Paul Houghtaling,          Justin Stowe   David Butler    Kevin Chance

                                      Bass-Baritone                    Oboe           Trumpet       Director of Music

                                                                                                                           Ministries

October 25, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Request

On Sunday, my message involved the scriptural keys for defeating temptation. I shared the seven R’s that God has equipped us with for this fight. Just to recap, here are the first seven biblical keys to overcoming the temptations that we all face.

1.) REMEMBER who you are. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2.) RESIST the temptation itself.  Choose to fight. 

Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil,  and he will flee from you. James 4:7

3.) REMOVE yourself from the tempting circumstances.

 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  2 Timothy 2:22

4.) REFLECT on the consequences of making this decision. Where could this lead? 

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.   Matt. 10:16

5.) REALIZE that you and you alone are responsible for you actions. Do not rationalize or blame others. 

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.  James 1:13

6.) RELY on the power of prayer! 

Ask God to deliver you from temptation. No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.     1 Corinthians 10:13

7.) RESOURCE yourself for victory by sharing your struggle with a close Christian friend!

Number 8:    Request

To go a little deeper, I want you to reflect back on the story of our spiritual ancestors, the Israelites. As you may recall, God’s chosen people were slaves in Egypt toiling under the rule of the pharaohs. God heard their cries for help and raised up a  leader, Moses, to lead them out of captivity.  Think for a minute about all God did to free them… Using a burning bush, he raised up a leader for the task. He equipped him with a helper, Aaron, to stand by him in his mission. He sent plague after plague against the Egyptians to get their attention and to force them to release his people. He parted the Red Sea to give the Israelites an escape route. He even closed the parted sea on their pursuers, drowning most of them, in order to ensure their freedom. Finally, he fed and guided them as they journeyed away from there in the wilderness ultimately raising up another leader, Joshua, to lead them into the promised land.

Question: If God can do and would do all of that to set his people free from slavery, what can He do to set you free from whatever binds you? In light of the exodus from Egypt, maybe we should ask God not for “help” with our temptations. That is like asking the ocean to give you a droplet of water. Rather, ask God to DELIVER you. Ask him to part the Red Sea of sin and to deliver you safely through it. Ask Him to close it behind you as you walk the path He has opened for you. All the power is in His hands, so it is our role to turn to Him and request His deliverance and His exodus power. What a blessing and comfort it is to have a loving God who has power over all things!

Be delivered!

Wade

October 11, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Last Saturday I read an article buried in the back of the sports section. It was about a student at Benton High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. The boys name is Matt Ziesel, and he has Down’s Syndrome. Matt plays football on the 9th grade team at his high school and had a chance to play in a recent game against Maryville. His opportunity to get on the field came unexpectedly when he and his teammates found themselves down 46-0 against their rivals.  

Despite being down 46-0, Benton’s coach, Dan McCamy, was able to discern the voice of God. He had the idea that this was the perfect time to put in his 5 foot 3, 105 lb. running back.  Timeout was called and McCamy ran over to the opposing team’s bench to make a strange request. Would they give up their shutout to let a little boy reach his dreams. Despite getting some strange looks, McCamy convinced them to play along and to make it as real as possible without actually hitting or tackling young Ziesel. On the next play, Ziesel ran for a touchdown. Wanting to make it as real as possible, McCamy followed him down the sideline screaming, “They’re right behind you— you’ve got to go. They’re going to get you.  They’re going to get you!’”

Looking at this article and the picture of a beaming Ziesel, I couldn’t help but cry.  The joy on his face radiated with a power that is hard to describe. It was the joy of achievement, the thrill of victory and the magic of being a part of a team.  

All of this happened because of a decision made on the spur of the moment by the coach of a ninth grade football team. For me, the hero of this story is not Ziesel. While Ziesel is an amazing and perfect gift of God, to me the hero is Dan McCamy. He is a page five hero because he used what he had to make a difference in one person’s life.  Maybe it wasn’t some great act worthy of being on the nightly news. Maybe it wasn’t rushing into a burning building to save someone’s life.

Instead, it was the kind of opportunity for heroism that presents itself to us every day.  What little authority and power is invested in a ninth grade coach, McCamy decided to use it for the good. He used it to touch one person’s life. Along the way, he taught every boy on that field a lesson about what is important in life. 

Answer: something other than football—something other than winning.

I was inspired by this story because it reminded me that God gives each of us the chance to be a page five hero every day...if we aren’t too busy.  It might happen at the gas station or leaving the mall. It might happen at work or on your lunch break. It could happen anywhere.  Still, I believe God gives each of us the enormous power to build others up or to tear them down each and every day. 

Who needs you to be their page five hero today?

CLICK HERE for the video

August 23, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kendall, please stop whining!

Have you ever been called down for whining?  Maybe you were a kid and your parents just couldn’t take it anymore. You wanted a toy or you were bored, and that high-pitched and whiney way of asking just put them over the edge. Well, I have experienced that myself with my dogs. I don’t know where they learned it, but they know how to whine when they don’t get what they want. Our older dog, Kendall, has a real talent for whining.  In her mind, she has a number of minutes that she must be petted each day. She also has a number of miles that she must be walked in a given week. If you don’t meet or exceed her performance standards, you are definitely going to hear about it. She will begin by coming over to you as you eat or sit on the couch.  She’ll stand there and stare at you. Then, the whining starts. Sometimes she will even drop her chin heavily on your leg. Usually, I can stop this behavior with a sharp word or by telling her to lay down, but in a few minutes, the whole process begins again. I suppose my poor parenting has inadvertently taught her how to get what she wants.  

An article in the Upper Room recently got me thinking about this phenomena. Let’s call it the “squeaky wheel principle.”  The Bible talks a lot about being a squeaky wheel.  Oddly enough, it tells us to BE a squeaky wheel in our prayer lives. Rather than telling us not to whine or to just toughen up, the Bible tells us to bring all our worries, cares, concerns, needs and wants to the Lord. It even tells us to do so with persistence. We are invited to bring these things to God on a daily basis. What a privilege! Apparently God never tires of hearing from us even if it is the same request or issue every single day!

The writer of that Upper Room devotional had a real insight about our spiritual lives.  We all have cares, concerns and problems.  Sometimes we turn to friends or family will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Put in simplest terms, all we have to do is ask. Have you?

God loves you and wants to be the answer in your life. It is when we forget this and look away that we find ourselves in dire straits.  Turn to Him now. Take your concerns to Him. Walk with Him and talk with Him about your burdens. I promise you’ll see what I mean.

        Check out:

                 Luke 11:5-12 & 18:1-8

July 5, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Six months out of the year, I am a part of a fanatical group of baseball fans/computer junkies that play a game called Fantasy Baseball. Without boring you with the arcane rules of FB, I will tell you that each team owner in our league drafts his own team from all available major league players. Our fantasy team then gets credited the statistical output of our players. (# of home runs, hits, wins, saves, ERA, etc.) So, each of us has a fantasy team of players drawn from any number of  different real teams in the big leagues. I’ll admit it is kind of nerdy. FB players find themselves staying up at night waiting for Baseball Tonight to come on ESPN just so we can see how our players did that day. Towards the end of the show, they do a feature called “Touch’em All” where they highlight all the home runs hit that day. I’m not sure what the attraction is, but I always love watching those baseballs fly out of the stadium, particularly at Giants Stadium where they hit them out of the park and into San Francisco Bay. That is very cool. 

Watching those balls fly upwards on an invisible line, higher and higher, I can’t help but think about this thing we call Christianity.  More specifically, I think about what it is God is trying to do with Christianity, i.e., His true purpose for our faith. Have you ever reflected on that? It seems like something we’d want to understand. It is certainly relevant to every aspect of our lives. How can we faithfully function as a church if we don’t have a sense of God’s underlying purpose in creating it?

To be sure, this is a complex question. It doesn’t lend itself to one pat answer. Still, I know it has some strange connection to the majestic arc of a high heater hit on the sweet spot. That ball that travels up and up, seemingly destined to hit the clouds, gives me the sense that God’s plan involves movement. It involves trajectory. In fact, I am certain that God has a path in mind for each of our lives.  He never wants to leave us where we are.  He wants more for us…more joy…more peace…more fulfillment…more light. To be short, He wants our lives to be abundant.

Spiritual growth is one of the main forces that changes us, grows and moves us along the path God has for us. As we approach a new Fall, I want to CHALLENGE you to look at your own spiritual life more closely.  Where is it headed? Down or up? Backwards or forwards? Our church has made Home Runs, Jesus Style. great strides in recent years in adding new Sunday school classes so that we have something for everyone. These classes provide a place to grow and be challenged in our faith. They also provide us an opportunity to get to know our fellow church members. If you do not have a small group here at Trinity, do yourself a favor and try one. We have seven weekly small groups for adults, and one is bound to fit your spiritual needs. Elevate, The Upper Room, Pairs and Spares, Women of Faith, Fellowship Class, Concord Class and the new middle adult class are all great possibilities. Give one a try.

This is a great time to make a decision to go somewhere…to go where God wants to take you. For more info on these classes, call Carol in the church office at 759-4206.

May 10, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

God’s Chemistry Set

When I was about ten years old, Santa Claus brought me a chemistry set. I guess Santa (or someone who put him up to it) had a grand vision of my life as a doctor or famous scientist. My first experiment involved making “kitty gas.” Little did I know that the kitty they were referring to was a polecat! The house reeked for days, and my set mysteriously disappeared a few days later. My parents were strangely calm in the face of this crime and could only speculate that the maid may have accidentally thrown it away.  

In our faith, there are lots of great spiritual experiments that God sets before us as well.  Living by faith rather than sight or shrewd calculations is a great example. When we are willing to live by faith, the results are nothing short of amazing.   

For example, scripture calls us to tithe by giving the first 10% of our earnings to God.  I interpret that to mean 10% of the gross because God comes before the government and everything else!  This command is actually a gift that helps us to set and live by certain priorities. Perhaps the greatest mark of spiritual maturity is the ability to see and appreciate God’s commandments as good gifts from a loving Father—good gifts carefully designed to help us have our best life possible. Spiritual immaturity is marked by seeing God’s commandments as onerous and unrealistic demands that don’t really apply to me because of ___________ or ___________ circumstance in my life. Just fill in the blanks. I have found there will always be something handy to put in there.

Still, in our heart of hearts, we know what God expects. We also know we are living in rebellion when we disobey. Faithful giving isn’t based on the needs of the church.  Those needs fluctuate. Faithful giving is based on a desire to please and praise God with our grateful obedience. We see this earth, we see our children and/or grand kids, we see the amazing artistry of our bodies, we reflect on our salvation, and we say thank you God, thank you. Our lives and lifestyles say thank you!

This divine concoction that begins with 

1)  God’s generosity

2)  His command to tithe

3)  Our joyful obedience.

It has two other key components. The church has to provide some ingredients as well.  In particular, the church MUST be transparent in all its financial dealings and transactions. Second, the church must be a prayerful and careful steward of God’s resources.  

Beginning this year, we are trying to be even more transparent with our finances. One way we are addressing this is by placing our quarterly financial reports in the narthex for you to pick up and review. They come out in April, July, October and January.

I believe these simple ingredients add up to a blessed life for a disciple and a church with abundant resources for ministry. Consistent tithing blesses the giver most of all, and allows God to train us to rely on Him in all things.  Thanks be to God that He has a better idea of what we need than we do.

March 24, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lenten Poem from a Friend…

[I found this poem on a semi-anonymous blog.  It moved me to think about what Jesus is “up to” with the season of Lent.  I know he isn’t after my Cokes or sweets.  With Him, it is never that simple.  Is it?  What do you think He is really after?  What is His purpose for Lent in your life?  Answering that one question will take you to the heart of this holy season.  Blessings, Wade]

Come back to me with all your heart.

Don’t let fear keep us apart.

Trees do bend, though straight and tall

So must we, to other’s call.

Long have I waited for your coming,

home to me and living, deeply, our new lives.

The wilderness will lead you

To your heart, will I will speak.

Integrity and justice.

With tenderness, you shall know.

Long have I waited for your coming,

home to me and living, deeply, our new lives

You shall sleep, secure with peace;

Faithfulness will be your joy.

Long have I waited for your coming,

home to me and living, deeply, our new lives.

                     A poem by Jessica

“When you Fast”

       A Lenten Fast for God’s Ministry at Trinity

Did you know that Jesus assumed that we would fast as part of our discipleship?  Read these words from Matthew, chapter six: “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

                    Peace, 

                        Wade

March 17, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

The First Evangelists Series

Noon-day Holy Week Services at Trinity

Who were the first people to proclaim that Jesus was risen?  Do you know?

Did you know that Easter, the touchstone of our faith, was first proclaimed by women?  Matthew writes, “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.” Matthew 28:1-7

She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.  When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.”

This Holy Week, we will gather like the first disciples did to hear the women proclaim the Good News of Christ.   As a part of our First Evangelists Series, I have invited four of the North Alabama Conference’s best female pastors to come and preach at our noon-day services.   Each day we will have lunch following the service.  The dates for these services are April 6-9th. Please put this on your calendar now and invite a co-worker!!  We will worship from 12-12:30pm and eat from 12:30pm -1pm on each of those days.  I look forward to marking this Easter season with you by joining together for worship and table fellowship!

              Peace,

               Wade

March 10, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Trinity’s Barn Raising

In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, many American rural communities were known for their barn raisings.  Barn raisings were a two-day community event where everyone gathered to help a family build a barn.  All able-bodied members of the community were expected to attend.  In fact, many communities required attendance and would censure any citizens who did not come.  Still, history tells us that in most cases people came of their own free will.  They were eager to help a neighbor and to ensure that they could find assistance themselves in the future.   This communal approach to addressing family needs reminds us of the early church and of the golden rule.  Doing unto others as you would have them do unto you is truly a winning strategy for life.  

Barn raisings were also known for a strict division of labor.  Children were expected to watch and learn.  Boys were expected to fetch parts and tools.  The women watched the children and provided the food.  The men built the barn under the direction of a skilled carpenter that would have been hired to supervise the project.  What I wouldn’t do to have been a part of one of those barn-raisings.  The sense of family and community spirit was palpable.  The food was probably to die for…  And, I am sure everyone was infected with the joy of doing a good deed and working side-by-side with a neighbor.

See you on Saturday, April 4^th, starting at 8 am

Help Jim Z make STONE SOUP.  Bring 2 cans of veggies!

CLICK HERE to read about "stone soup."   

March 3, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Snowballs, Snowmen and Snow Fun!

Colossians 1:13-14

This week, we had quite the meteorological interruption in our normal routine!  SNOW!!!  Two to four inches of snow fell in central Alabama in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 1^st.  Churches cancelled services, some businesses closed, and the only thing that could take away the joy of a snow day was the occasional thought of how much better it would be if it had happened on Monday!  (You know you thought about it!!!!)

The snow was beautiful, fun and a great interruption in our normal routines.  While I was sad that we had to cancel church for safety reasons, I was thankful for this God-given gift of a gorgeous landscape.  Looking out over the snow, I reflected on the fact that we were supposed have communion that day.  Like the snow that covered the grounds of our church with a flawless layer of white, our celebration of the Lord’s Supper reminds us that God’s abundant and perfect grace covers our sin-scarred spiritual landscape with a flawless layer of holiness.  We are covered in Jesus’ holiness.  WHAT A GIFT!

This Sunday, we will have communion.  After you receive the sacrament, look out over your church family and see if you can imagine them all covered in snow.  All the scars of sin are now invisible.  Each one of them is perfect—perfectly covered in God’s grace.  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah to our Father who allows His grace to fall from the heavens onto His children.

…there are things inside each of us, under that blanket of grace, that God is still not finished repairing and changing.  He has only begun the transformation of our desires, intentions and character!  Thanks be to God that we are in the process of being remade and given a heart fixed on Him.  In the meantime, let’s celebrate, make snow angels and even have snowball fight!!!  Why?  We are covered!  Covered by grace!                          

February 24, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Jesus vs. Wild A Lenten Sermon Series

Recently, I have begun watching a great show called “Man v. Wild.”  Each episode features Bear Grylls, a former British special forces commando, being dropped into extreme wilderness survival situations where he demonstrates techniques to use if you ever find yourself stranded in the woods.  Granted, most of us will never find ourselves lost or stranded on a desert island off Malaysia, but many of the techniques he teaches could be used when camping or if you were to get lost in a forest near your home.  The show is called “Man v. Wild” because each episode pits his know-how & fortitude against the danger inherent in any wilderness survival situation.

This type of situation, and the intense drama it evokes is nothing new.  Two thousand years ago, Jesus was led into the wilderness for a period of fasting.  God was preparing Him for his public ministry and facing temptation, self-denial and bodily pain were important parts of His preparation.  As we begin Lent, we, too, journey into the wilderness.  We follow Christ in a season of painful self-denial.  We choose to deny our bodies and bellies as a way of standing firm with him.  We do so to reflect on all He did for us and to feel some tiny fragment of the pain He endured for us.

Week One

Into the Wild!  An Invitation to Radical Discipleship

Week Two

The Best Hiking Companions: Solitude and God 

Week Three

Got Broken-In Boots?  Are you Shod to Face the Temptor?

Week Four

Mmm, Those Mushrooms Look Good!  Learning to Beat Temptation

Week Five

Got Food for the Journey?  You’ll Need more than Gorp!

February 17, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Boots on the Ground

Recently during the presidential campaigns, I often heard the phrase, “boots on the ground.”  I usually heard it in the context of, “I plan to have boots on the ground in Pakistan within ___ days.”  That little phrase stuck with me because it generates quite a visual image.  When I hear it, I see a staging area with troops preparing their gear.  They are loading up on a C-130 getting ready to be deployed.  Gravel-voiced sergeants are bellowing orders.  Soldiers are scrambling to make sure all of their gear is squared away and ready for action.

Did you know that we are approaching a “boots on the ground” season in the life of faith?  All of the Christmas decorations are put up (OK, we at least have plans to put them up…), and Lent is rapidly approaching.  Sometimes it seems like the festivities are barely over when the purple, burlap and brambles appear, leading us into the wilderness with Christ--our boots on the same path he walked. 

His was a solitary journey at times.  While he had a band of brothers and sisters to support him, his toughest moments were endured alone.    In the wilderness where he faced the tempter, he was alone. (Matthew 4:1-11)  On the lonely mountainsides praying before dawn, He was alone.  (Mark 1:35) In the garden of Gethsemane, he was alone. (Mark 14)  In each of these places, only God, His loving Father, was with Him.    No human companion had the fortitude or ability to follow Him.  It was His path and His alone.  In Lent, we get to revisit and respond to the sense of abandonment and loneliness that Christ must have felt at times.  We get to be his “boots on the ground,” single-mindedly following Him into a wilderness of sacrifice.

In Lent, we reflect on our own sinfulness and self-absorption, the kind of attitudes and brokenness that led Jesus’ first companions to largely abandon Him in His time of need.  In Lent, we doggedly stare at His suffering, His loneliness and His courage, asking ourselves, “Would I have denied Him?”  (Matthew 26:69-75)

Join me on a Lenten journey beginning at our Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday night, February 25^th, at 6:15pm.  This service will mark the beginning of a 40 day walk with Jesus.  Together, we will seek to be His “boots on the ground” by 1.) making a covenant to begin each day in prayer and devotion for forty days; 2.) by spending these days in reflection on our own sin and “lukewarm” faith & 3.) by fasting the week before Holy Week.  There are many ways to fast, but scripture refers to it as a given in the life of faith.  Next week, I will share more about this part of our Lenten covenant.

Are you ready to be His “boots on the ground?”  Let us all be in prayer that God would give us the passion and heart to truly, TRULY, follow Him.

February 10, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Healing and Wholeness Service

February 22^nd at 5pm

On February 22^nd, Trinity will hold a healing and wholeness worship service at 5pm.  This time of worship is intended to create a sacred space for inviting Jesus to touch the brokenness we all experience in our lives.  Whether it is grief, mental illness or a physical ailment, scripture tells us that God has the power to bring healing to our bodies, our minds and our spirits.

For example, in Mark 8:22-25, Jesus has an encounter with a blind man.  “They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’  He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly."  I find it interesting that the writer included the man’s first response to Jesus’ question, “Do you see anything?"  At first, his vision was partially corrected and he thought he saw trees wandering around.  Jesus touched him again, and he was made whole.

This story reminds us that healing can be a process.  It can be a journey that involves patience and persistence.  It may involve several encounters with God or with the care providers God has given us.  Certainly God can heal when, where and how He chooses, but this story shows us a different perspective.  Sometimes God’s work takes time.

February 3, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Try Vitamin I

One of my closest friends is an ultra-marathoner (also known as a nutcase), and for fun, he runs up to 30 miles at a time.  Wait, did I mention he does this for fun?  Once I was hanging out with him and a few of his running buddies, and I heard them mention vitamin I.  Naturally, I took the bait and said I had never heard of a vitamin I.  They all laughed and told me that vitamin I is ibuprofen.  I said, “Ibuprofen?”  They all grinned again, and one of them said, “Yeah, ibebroken.”  Apparently, hardcore runners eat a lot of “ibebroken” to prevent regular inflammations of overworked muscles and ligaments.  It keeps them going! 

I’m definitely not an ultra-marathoner, but I do have something I really need every day to keep me running triumphantly in my day-to-day life.  I need God’s presence and involvement in all that I do if I am to succeed at anything I do!  I need Immanuel, i.e., “God with us,” to be my guide and strength.   

This morning is a great example.  As I write this, it is Monday morning.  It is raining, dreary and I am behind on some paperwork.  Pretty exciting, huh?  On days like this, the oppressive & grey weather can seep into your bones and make you not want to even get out of the bed.  But, I started my morning in prayer.  I prayed and read the Upper Room for today.  It took me to Psalm 91, a psalm I did not even remember.  It dramatically and poetically told me how God would protect me and lead me to victory if I took refuge in Him.  While reading it, I realized that I was taking refuge in Him.  By starting the day in His word and in a conversation with Him, I was taking refuge in Him.  He was my refuge from a tough Monday filled with more concerns and tasks than I could feasibly accomplish.  His Word reminded me to trust Him.  His Word reminded me to commit all of my “to-do’s” into His care. 

In three weeks, Chris Labosier will begin leading a devotional study called “Holy Habits” that will help you walk more closely with God.  He has graciously offered to lead it on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 pm or for a brown-bag lunch on Thursdays.  Please contact the church office to let us know which is your preference.  In the meantime, begin each day with a big dose of vitamin I-mmanuel.  His presence is our power—power for living, wisdom for deciding and strength for overcoming.

January 28, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Celebrating Biblical Stewardship

2008 Financial Report

We are excited to report that our church’s financial strength took a major step forward in 2008.  Despite the economy, we can celebrate an incredible year in terms of stewardship and giving.  In 2007, total giving for the church totaled $332,023.12.  In 2008, that number rose to $424,893.97.   That is a 31% increase in giving!  I think that deserves a big AMEN!  Expenses increased as well with a number of unexpected maintenance costs.  These costs pushed our expenses up 18.4% beyond that of 2007.  As you can see, the difference between these increases is significant, and the difference allowed us to erase most of our designated funds deficit from 2007 and left us with a net positive cash flow for 2008.  In simplest terms, we took in more than we spent in 2008.

Several factors played a role in this success.  First, we want to thank God and the efforts of our wonderful stewardship team.  In the last two years, our stewardship team, led by Georgia Buettner in 2007 and Jay Robbins in 2008, has done a remarkable job of prayerfully leading us in a time if reflection and commitment as we begin to live and spend according to our true priorities.  The “fruit” from these campaigns tell us all we need to know about the value of spending time each year reflecting on all of the gifts God has given us.  Clearly, our annual stewardship focus kindles in our hearts a desire to return something significant and sacrificial to the one who is the source of all good things! 

Our trustees have been busy working to improve the grounds and facilities, and this additional funding will help them tackle some issues that have been needing attention for some time.

Servicing our capital debt of $445,000 from the budget is only a temporary solution.  With monthly loan payments of $3,700, you can see what a drain this is on our annual operating resources.  Over the course of year, this will add up to $44,400.00.  With that money, we could do so much in terms of staff and program!  That is why churches normally hold capital campaigns to pay for new buildings or major renovations.  A capital campaign is a special giving campaign where we ask one another to give a special gift above and beyond the normal tithe.  Capital campaigns allow churches to build new buildings, retire debt or launch major new initiatives.  We are planning to hold a capital campaign in the spring of 2010 to retire our capital debt.  This will allow us to use that $44,000/year for ministry, not loan payments.  We hope you will begin praying about this in the year to come, and for now, lets celebrate the faithful giving of our congregation!

January 21, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

New Year and New Classes!

Four New Small Group Opportunities

This spring there are four new small group opportunities that you may want to participate in.  

First, a young men’s Bible study group began several months ago and has grown from two to six people in a matter of months.  This group began with an idea from Jim Zimlich and has grown into a great time of food, fellowship and scripture every Thursday morning at 6:30am.  They meet at Rama Jama’s by the stadium, and the food is great!

In addition, our choir has begun an abbreviated Sunday School class that meets on Sunday mornings at 9:30am.  Rather than leaving Sunday School early, they go straight to the choir room for a short study followed by a 30 minute choir warm-up.  We should all be thankful for the sacrifices they make for our worship services!

Beginning in late February, Chris Labosier will be leading a Lenten study called Holy Habits by Rich Bimler.  This popular speaker and writer offers Lenten devotions sharing 47 positive "holy habits," a.k.a. "resurrection routines," for Lent--or anytime. Bimler begins with a Scripture for each day of Lent and Holy Week and connects it with a specific "holy habit" intended to help readers focus more intentionally and joyfully on the Resurrection message for them in Christ's Cross and the Empty Tomb.  This class will meet either late Sunday afternoons or for a brown-bag lunch on Thursdays depending on an interest survey we will be doing later this month. 

Finally, we are making plans to begin a new Sunday School class for those in their late 30s to early 50s.  This class would fall chronologically between the Upper Room Class and the Concord class and will appeal to parents and empty-nesters.  For more information about this new offering, please contact Wade Griffith at the church office, 759-4206.

January 14, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Delivering Hope 

On June 5^th, Trinity’s second-ever international mission team will lift off from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport bearing hope to the people of Nicaragua.  This year’s mission will involve construction and evangelism, and we hope to expand on the evangelism work we can do with the children we encounter.  Last year we discovered that sharing love and laughter with the children of Chacraseca is an incredible and life–changing experience.  Through the use of toys, coloring books and stories, we plan to expand this dimension of our mission.

One of the more moving experiences we had was when we dedicated our new construction to God and carried a Bible into the home for the first time.  We left that Bible there as sign that, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” (Psalm 127:1)  I can’t tell you how humbling it was to see God provide a house for a family almost as if it were out of thin air.  I pray your heart swells with the knowledge that God used you to provide a home for Pastor Santiago Hernandez and his family.  This year, we will return there to see our friends living in their new home.

Preparations have begun again, and our newly formed team wants to invite you to join us in this mission of hope.  We hope you will join us in this ministry by participating through one or more these options!!

1.  Bring yard sale items to the church and put them on the stage in the fellowship hall.  We will not be receiving clothing.  Please plan to come during office hours so that you can get into the building.

2. Begin saving all of your coins for our Nickle-ragua fundraiser!  We’ll be distributing the cans soon!

Please add this to your prayer list.  It takes a lot of money to make this mission possible, and we pray for God to provide the resources for this ministry.  Last year, we received numerous special donations and gifts for the mission.  This added a lot to what we were able to accomplish, and we welcome any special gifts this year as well!

January 7, 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Turning…

Repentance, Change and the Gift of a New Year

A sermon series for the New Year!

Join us beginning this week for a new sermon series celebrating change, one of the cornerstones of our faith.  Like it or not, change is one of the bedrock principles of Christianity.  God’s vision for our lives is one of transformation and healing.  Truthfully, we all know this to be true even though we resist it daily.  Join me for a look at the changes God has for you this year.  If you’ll allow God to have His way, it could be one of the best years of your life!

Week One:   Jan. 11^th

Turning toward Love

Discovering Godly Selfishness

 Week Two:  Jan. 18^th

Turning toward Health

Discovering the Vision of Your Designer

Week Three:   Jan. 25^th

Turning toward Optimism

Discovering New Eyes for a New Year!

Week Four:  Feb. 1^st

Turning toward Inner Peace

Discovering the Heart of Mary in a Martha World.

Week 5:   Feb. 8^th 

Turning Toward Healthy Boundaries

Discovering God’s Model for Love 

and the Word “No.”

Week 6:   Feb. 15^th

Turning Toward the Friendship of a Lifetime

Discovering the One Secret to the 

Best Year of Your Life    

December 30, 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wednesday Night Soul-Food Returns

When we resume our Wednesday night meals and program, Wednesday Night Soul-Food, on January 14^th, we’ll have two great choices for study after the meals.  

First, Dr. Philip Westbrook will be leading a study on C.S. Lewis’ signature book, The Screwtape Letters.  This book is probably the most creative and engaging Christian book ever written.  That is saying a lot considering the number of books that have been written in 2000 years of our faith.  

In addition, Rev. Wade Griffith will be leading a study of Romans.  The Romans study is limited to 10 participants, so please register soon if you want to take that class.  Whichever one you take, register now so that we can get an estimate of the total numbers and so we can have enough books and materials for everyone. 

Wicked Good

C. S. Lewis once complained that writing The Screwtape Letters brought him no pleasure. “I never wrote with less enjoyment,” he said. “The strain produced a spiritual cramp.” That’s because Screwtape is a devil, and his letters are pieces of fiendish instruction sent to Wormwood, an apprentice demon who is trying to tempt a soul into Hell. “The world in which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst, and itch,” said Lewis. “Every trace of beauty, freshness, and geniality had to be excluded.”

“And yet The Screwtape Letters, published in 1942, is one of Lewis’s best-loved books — it is probably more widely read than any of his titles, with the exception of Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. It might even be said that in certain respects it was the most important book he ever wrote, if only because it “made Lewis a household name,” according to biographer A. N. Wilson. Would we know Lewis if he had never written Screwtape? Probably. But it’s a little like asking whether we’d know Shakespeare if he had never written Hamlet — removing it from his opus diminishes him.  Anybody who has dipped into the book can sense its power. The concept of a devil writing letters to his subordinate is pure genius, and The Screwtape Letters if full of crackling-good prose.”

To read the rest of the review, please go to:  http://www.nationalreview.com/miller/miller200604200601.asp

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